Pervasive indirect genetic effects on behavioral development in polymorphic eastern mosquitofish

Abstract

“Nurture” depends on the “nature” of social partners. The behavior of a young male mosquitofish depends on genetic differences in his social partners and on his own genes. Social partners that are genetically dark or light colored affect the behavior differently. But, dark-colored males respond less to social differences than light males, and receive different behaviors from social partners. So, even apparently innate differences related to color can be caused by differences in the behavior of social partners.